Plasma confinement of a laser gain media for gain-amplified lasers

Abstract

Laser amplification utilizing plasma confinement of a gas laser gain media is described. The gas laser gain media is compressed into plasma utilizing a self-reinforcing magnetic field referred to a plasma pinch (e.g., a flow stabilized z-pinch). In the pinch, the gas laser gain media is compressed to a high density, which improves the gain of the media. Coherent light is transmitted through the plasma pinch, which is amplified by the plasma pinch.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a plasma confinement device configured to generate a plasma pinch of at least one gas comprising a laser gain media; and 
 a laser configured to transmit coherent light through the plasma pinch to amplify the coherent light utilizing the laser gain media compressed within the plasma pinch. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plasma confinement device comprises:
 an outer electrode in a form of a hollow cylinder; 
 an inner electrode within an interior of the outer electrode; and 
 a power source electrically coupled to the outer electrode and the inner electrode that is configured to generate an electric arc between the outer electrode and the inner electrode through the laser gain media; 
 wherein the electric arc travels along an interior surface of the outer electrode towards an end of the outer electrode to generate the plasma pinch. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a gas supply configured to provide the laser gain media to the interior. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a vacuum chamber that surrounds the outer electrode; and 
 a vacuum source configured to generate a vacuum within the vacuum chamber. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein:
 the inner electrode is centered within the interior; and 
 the plasma pinch is generated centrally within the interior between the inner electrode and an opening through the end of the outer electrode. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein:
 the laser is proximate to the inner electrode and is configured to transmit the coherent light towards the opening. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a first partially reflective mirror proximate to the inner electrode that is optically coupled to the laser; and 
 a second partially reflective mirror proximate to the opening that is configured to reflect the coherent light back through the plasma pinch to the first partially reflective mirror. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the plasma pinch comprises a flow stabilized z-pinch. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the laser gain media is selected to amplify light at a wavelength that corresponds to a wavelength of the coherent light. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the laser gain media is selected to form an excimer laser. 
 
     
     
       11. A method comprising:
 generating a plasma pinch of at least one gas comprising a laser gain media; and 
 transmitting coherent light through the plasma pinch to amplify the coherent light utilizing the laser gain media compressed within the plasma pinch. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein generating the plasma pinch further comprises:
 generating an electric arc through the laser gain media between an outer electrode in a form of a hollow cylinder and an inner electrode within an interior of the outer electrode, wherein the electric arc travels along an interior surface of the outer electrode towards an end of the outer electrode to generate the plasma pinch. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 supplying the laser gain media to the interior of the outer electrode. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 generating a vacuum within a vacuum chamber that surrounds the outer electrode. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 the inner electrode is centered within the interior; and 
 generating the plasma pinch further comprises:
 generating the plasma pinch centrally within the interior between the inner electrode and an opening through the end of the outer electrode. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein transmitting the coherent light further comprises:
 transmitting the coherent light towards the opening utilizing a laser. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 optically coupling a first partially reflective mirror to the laser that is proximate to the inner electrode; and 
 reflecting the coherent light back through the plasma pinch to the first partially reflective mirror utilizing a second partially reflective mirror that is proximate to the opening. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the plasma pinch comprises a flow stabilized z-pinch. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the laser gain media is selected to amplify light at a wavelength that corresponds to a wavelength of the coherent light. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the laser gain media is selected to form an excimer laser. 
 
     
     
       21. An apparatus comprising:
 an outer electrode in the form of a hollow cylinder having an end with an opening; 
 an inner electrode in the form of a hollow cylinder that is centered within an interior of the outer electrode; 
 at least one gas supply configured to provide a laser gain media to the interior; 
 a power source electrically coupled to the outer electrode and the inner electrode that is configured to generate an electric arc between the outer electrode and the inner electrode, wherein the electric arc travels along an interior surface of the outer electrode towards the opening to form a plasma pinch between the inner electrode and the opening; and 
 a laser configured to transmit coherent light through the plasma pinch to amplify the coherent light utilizing the laser gain media compressed within the plasma pinch. 
 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising:
 a vacuum chamber that surrounds the outer electrode; and 
 a vacuum source configured to generate a vacuum within the vacuum chamber. 
 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein:
 the laser is located within the inner electrode. 
 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising:
 a first partially reflective mirror proximate to the inner electrode that is optically coupled to the laser; and 
 a second partially reflective mirror proximate to the opening that is configured to reflect the coherent light back through the plasma pinch to the first partially reflective mirror. 
 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein:
 the power source is configured to generate a positive voltage on the outer electrode with respect to the inner electrode. 
 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein:
 the plasma pinch comprises a flow stabilized z-pinch. 
 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein:
 the laser gain media is selected to amplify light at a wavelength that corresponds to a wavelength of the coherent light. 
 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein:
 the laser gain media is selected to form an excimer laser.